Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

It's one example. He's doing very loaded touring.
It was just an example of backpack use.

Here's a bunch of stuff for when NOT using a rack:
https://bikepacking.com/gear/bikepacking-with-a-dropper-post/

Happy now?

Oh, they even made a video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2izdtx7bQYg

I can’t believe that video is 10 minutes long

Here's one just for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-XnBQ4dm48

Stop

I've not even got warmed up yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtcnmzEAWe8

ffs

Im interested in the poles you mention. How do i find them? Are they foldable?

If the vid is over 10 mins you can monetise it on YouTube.

Always found riding with a heavy backpack not the best (vs a rack) unless it was short distances. Maybe it is something you get used to though for touring?

I always commuted with a bag, a courier bag until recent years as my smashed up collarbone didn't get along with straps and I hated panniers - I like to get off the bike with my stuff.

But doing longer rides I'd try to avoid backpacks unless strictly necessary. I've got my Camelbak here from Oz but haven't used it once. I may test it out for MTBing once I get my bike built - being able to drink from the pack when you want both hands on the bars seems like a pretty big advantage compared to trying to grab bottles on tech terrain. Like most things I guess you'd get used to it.

Unrelated, this Jay Petervary gear list vid was a fun watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdiqiqhep7w

Not that I have any plans to go anywhere that cold but that race does fascinate me. Added to list.

Yeah, it's crazy the amount of stuff he used!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Custom-made-carbon-fibre-fiber-tarp-poles-by-the-metre-10-12mm-40-80g-m/282953824814?hash=item41e15cba2e:g:53sAAOSwAjRa7gwh

they're great

Pole a bear make good ones custom sizes and they have a sick logo.

Or you can use a stick. They’re free

Thank you!

Great logo and so are sticks.

Mentioning the Iditabike reminded me of a local guy, previous olympian who also owned a bike shop. He participated a couple of times and on one occasion someone filled his camelback with boiling water and he ended up with burns on his back.

Ouch, how did that happen?

Ouch, probably seemed like a good idea at the time but I reckon I'd have tested it first :S

Stick with beer...

Warm water is always used to prevent freezing before the athletes can drink it. I guess someone got a little enthusiastic on the warming side of things.

Small overnight adventure to test my buddies bikepacking setup.

Had it all, snapped chain (had to use shoelace trick to open quick link), a lot of faffing with his tent in the dark and subzero overnight temps.

Upside was epic views of the stars with minimal light pollution.

10/10 would micro adventure again.

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Looks like a grand night out, though I do feel the need to ask which bag had the kitchen sink in it!

Looks fun, love the photo of the tent and the moon.

Have you a photo showing the rack on the genesis? Wondering if front panniers are the way to go for bikepacking - they shouldn't get in the way for pushing the bike like rear ones would.

This was a bit of a trial for that idea, front panniers had the lightweight / high volume stuff in them. 4 season bag in one, insulated mat and cooking kit in the other. Both had a big Voile strap around them to the rack legs, my idea to take the strain off the pannier fittings and stop the rattling.

Front rack had a big two man tent on it, normally this is split in half with my brother.

Frame bag was full of cans of beer, tube, tool and pump.

Saddle pack had food for 2, jacket, hat, gloves, headtorch, TP, spare socks and long johns.